Sunday, May 18, 2008

Bhopal, May 17 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh lawmaker and member of a state tiger conservation body Darbu Singh Uike has alleged that corrupt officials have siphoned off millions meant for the conservation of tigers in the state's Kanha National Park. Uike, who is patron of Gondwana Mukti Sena and represents the Paraswada assembly seat, Saturday told reporters here that repeated appeals to the state government by him on the irregularities and corruption in the park have fallen on deaf ears.

"If the state government does not pay attention towards the demands of proper security and conservation of wildlife in Kanha National Park, my party will stage a dharna (protest) in front of the park's main gate and demand resignation of the state forest minister," he said.

"At least one tiger and four sambhars (deer) have died in the buffer zone of the park due to scarcity of water. Similarly, five tigers had died in the Gandhar area of the national park in December," he alleged.